New wave of lifestyle hotels reshapes Australian investment in Bali

Sydney Morning Herald

2 days ago

Bali has long held appeal for Australians looking to own a slice of paradise, often in the form of private villas tucked among rice fields or perched near the surf. But that picture is changing.
A growing cohort of Australian investors are turning away from standalone homes and embracing a new breed of lifestyle-focused hotel developments.
Instead of building or buying a traditional villa, some are buying into professionally operated resorts through fractional ownership – an arrangement that allows shared access to a hotel-managed property, often backed by well-known travel or fashion brands.
This shift reflects broader global trends toward flexibility, shared experiences, and curated environments. As the island becomes busier and more connected, many buyers are rethinking what it means to have a stake in Bali.
Chad Egan, chief executive and founder of Geonet Property & Finance Group, says Australian investors are becoming more educated about how people actually stay when they're on the ground in Bali.
'About 75 per cent of all of the people that come to Bali go to hotels,' he says. 'So it's hotels that have the undersupplied market. Villas are an oversupplied market.'
Egan says that hotel stays – with concierge services, amenities, and consistent service – increasingly appeal to both travellers and investors. 'Guests prefer the hotel experience where everything is done for you.'
With this in mind, Egan says that investors are also drawn to new hotels as investments. Developments are often backed by brand partnerships with travel operators and lifestyle companies. These alliances help shape expectations and reduce perceived risks for offshore buyers by offering a more familiar and service-led model.